Breakdown cover provides help for you if your vehicle or a vehicle you are a passenger in were to break down when travelling. If your vehicle cannot be fixed at the roadside, the policy will usually cover the cost of towing your vehicle to the nearest garage and you may be covered for a courtesy car or onward travel, depending on the level of cover you purchase. It's possible to purchase a breakdown policy directly with a breakdown provider or alternatively, you may have breakdown cover included with your packaged bank account, your car insurance policy or if you have a car service or finance plan.
In this article, we take a look at the AA's breakdown cover including its key features, the different types of cover available and how it compares to alternative providers. We recommend that you read the review in full, however, you can jump to specific sections of the article using the following links:
- What is the AA?
- AA breakdown cover key features
- What does AA breakdown cover?
- AA breakdown cover policies
- How much does AA breakdown cover cost?
- How to make a claim on AA breakdown cover
- AA breakdown cover customer reviews
- Pros and cons of AA breakdown cover
- Alternatives to AA breakdown cover
- Summary
What is the AA?
The Automobile Association (AA) was founded in 1905 by a group of motoring enthusiasts and has since expanded to over 14 million members to become the UK's largest motoring organisation. The AA is probably best known for its breakdown cover but it also offers a range of additional services such as vehicle insurance, home insurance, finance products and lifestyle plans.
AA breakdown cover key features
- Breakdown cover from £7.50 a month (or £85 a year) for private and domestic vehicles
- Cover for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes and 8ft 3inches wide
- Unlimited call outs
- Electric and hybrid vehicles are covered at no extra cost
- 4 breakdown cover types: Cover for you, Cover for two people, Family cover, Vehicle cover
- Number of optional extras including European cover and Fuel Assist
- Discounts on a number of additional benefits such as you vehicle MOT, airport parking, car hire and vehicle checks
- 24/7 support with roadside assistance
- AA member discounts and smartphone app
AA breakdown cover types
The AA offers four types of breakdown cover for a range of non-commercial vehicles; Cover for you, Cover for two people, Family cover and Vehicle cover. The differences between the cover types are shown below:
- Cover for you - covers an individual as a passenger or driver of any vehicle.
- Cover for two people - a joint breakdown policy that covers two individuals at the same address as both a passenger or driver of any vehicle.
- Family cover - breakdown cover for the policyholder plus 3 other people you live with as passengers or drivers of any vehicle.
- Vehicle cover - cover for a specific vehicle no matter who is driving it.
AA breakdown cover provides 'emergency assistance when a vehicle suffers a sudden or unexpected mechanical or electrical fault that prevents it from being driven or continuing a journey safely'. It does not cover any problems with your vehicle that are not an emergency or for routine servicing or care of your vehicle. In order to be covered under an AA breakdown cover policy you will need to ensure that your vehicle is safe and roadworthy and is taxed, insured and has a valid MOT certificate.
If you have a recurrent problem with your vehicle (e.g. a problem within 28 days of the AA attending) you will not be covered under the breakdown policy, unless you can provide sufficient evidence that a permanent repair was made to the vehicle following the AA's attendance. If your vehicle also had a pre-existing problem before you took out cover, you may not be covered.
AA breakdown policies
Roadside assistance is included as standard with any AA breakdown policy which provides cover if your vehicle breaks down 1/4 mile from your home. AA breakdown cover can then be tailored based on your personal preference, with the following extras:
- At Home (or Home Start) - Get cover if your vehicle doesn't start at home or breaks down within 1/4 mile of your home address. You can make unlimited claims with AA's Home Start service.
- Onward Travel (or Stay Mobile) - Onward travel cover means you can finish your journey if your vehicle cannot be repaired when the AA attends. You may be able to get help with additional transport such as up to 72 hours car hire or money towards public transport. Alternatively, you may be covered for the cost of an overnight stay in a hotel. Onward travel covers the policyholder plus up to 7 passengers and you can make 3 onward travel claims each membership year.
- National Recovery (or Relay) - If the vehicle breaks down at the side of the road and cannot be repaired this cover level will ensure the policyholder, up to 7 passengers and the vehicle are taken to any destination in the UK. Unlimited callouts can be made with the Relay cover as long as it is not for a recurrent problem.
- Parts and Garage cover - Get cover for repair works and labour costs at a garage following a breakdown for up to £535 per claim. You can make up to 5 claims each policy year on an individual or vehicle policy or up to 6 claims each policy year on a joint or family policy. Up to 4 vehicles can be covered on a single policy and there is a £35 excess with each claim made. It is worth noting that you won't be covered within the first 14 days of the policy or if you try to make a claim for any existing vehicle faults.
Additional AA services
Key Assist
Get replacement or spare keys if your car keys are lost, broken or stolen. You can get AA's Key Assist even if you are a non-AA member and a new key can be cut or replaced within around 40 minutes. Gold AA members can get free key insurance up to £1,500 with their membership but the cover will need to be activated in order for it to be valid. Other AA members and non-AA members will need to contact the AA for a quote.
Fuel Assist
The AA's Fuel Assist cover will help if you have put the wrong type of fuel in your vehicle by draining the fuel tank and adding in a suitable amount of the correct fuel for you to continue your journey. This service is available for both AA and non-AA members and a quote can be provided for the service over the phone. Existing AA members can save 10% on Fuel Assist.
Battery Assist
If your vehicle's battery needs replacing you can arrange for the AA to attend and replace it with a brand new battery that comes with a 5-year warranty. You can get a quote online and book the replacement on a date and time that suits you as well as at a location of your choice. How much you will pay for this service varies depending on the battery required for your vehicle plus the cost of fitting a new battery and replacing the old one. AA members with At Home cover will not have to pay a battery fitting fee, AA members without At Home cover will need to pay £10 and non-AA members will need to pay £35. This cost doesn't cover the cost of the battery.
European Breakdown Cover
Get breakdown cover for driving in over 40 countries across Europe and cover for vehicles of any age including cars, vans, motorcycles, campervans and caravans. The AA's European breakdown covers alternative accommodation and travel arrangements, recovery of your vehicle back to the UK, and up to £50,000 in legal costs but it must be purchased prior to travelling abroad. Existing AA members can get a 10% discount.
How much does AA breakdown cost?
Below, we provide examples of the cost of AA breakdown cover. We have compared the cost of different packages with the different policy add-ons. The actual price you pay is likely to vary and the cost of parts and garage cover will vary depending on the age and type of vehicle that you own.
The AA also sometimes offers discounts on various policies where you can save up to 40% of the cost of your add-ons. However, the quotes below are reflective of the price you would pay if there weren't discounts available when you took your policy out.
AA breakdown cover cost comparison (Cover for you)
| Package 1 | Package 2 | Package 3 | Package 4 | Package 5 | |
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| At Home |  |
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| National Recovery | |
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| Monthly policy cost | £9.82 | £13.44 | £18.83 | £22.67 | £33.24^ |
^Cost varies depending on the car number plate provided. Costs correct as of 29/10/2024.
AA breakdown cover cost comparison (Cover for two people)
| Package 1 | Package 2 | Package 3 | Package 4 | Package 5 | |
| Unlimited call outs | |
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| At Home | |
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| National Recovery | |
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| Monthly policy cost | £12.40 | £14.38 | £19.46 | £22.84 | £33.41^ |
^Cost varies depending on the car number plate provided. Costs correct as of 29/10/2024.
AA breakdown cover cost comparison (Family cover)
| Package 1 | Package 2 | Package 3 | Package 4 | Package 5 | |
| Unlimited call outs | |
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| Roadside assistance | |
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| At Home | |
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| National Recovery | |
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| Monthly policy cost | £18.90 | £19.46 | £26.65 | £30.60 | £41.17^ |
^Cost varies depending on the car number plate provided. Costs correct as of 29/10/2024.
AA breakdown cover cost comparison (Vehicle cover)
| Package 1 | Package 2 | Package 3 | Package 4 | Package 5 | |
| Unlimited call outs | |
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| At Home | |
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| National Recovery | |
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| Monthly policy cost | £7.50 | £10.14 | £13.58 | £16.78 | £27.35^ |
^Cost varies depending on the car number plate provided. Costs correct as of 29/10/2024.
How to make an AA breakdown cover claim
Anyone can use the AA if they have broken down, even if they are not an existing AA member, however, those that need immediate help and are not an existing AA member will likely have to pay more. If you have broken down and are not an existing AA member but need instant help, you can call the AA on 03330 046 046.
If you are an existing member and have broken down you can call the AA on 03330 046 046 or report a breakdown via the AA app which also allows you to track the mechanic when they are on their way to you.
What to do if your car breaks down
If you break down on the side of the road, follow these steps:
- Ensure you are in a safe place and try to move your vehicle off the road if possible
- Put your hazard lights on and wear a reflective jacket
- Move away from moving traffic and behind a barrier if there is one available
- Call 03330 046 046 or report the breakdown via the app
Call the emergency services at any time if you feel that you are unsafe and need emergency assistance.
What to do if you are in an accident
It may be possible to get help from the AA if you are involved in an accident. Existing AA members can get Accident Assist as a complementary 24/7 service and you can choose to have the AA deal with your insurance claim instead of your insurer. The AA can act on your behalf no matter who insures your vehicle or who was at fault for the accident. Some of the benefits of Accident Assist can be found below:
- Accident recovery if your vehicle isn't driveable
- Repairs by trusted AA-approved repairers (with a lifetime guarantee for as long as you are the registered owner)
- Hire vehicle provisions for the duration of the repair
- No excess charge if you are not at fault
- Personal injury support to you and your passengers
AA breakdown cover customer reviews
AA breakdown cover is rated as 'Great' by independent customer review website Trustpilot scoring 4.5 out of 5.0 stars from around 95,000 reviews. 76% of reviewers have rated it as Excellent citing great customer service, knowledgable mechanics, quick response times and a stress-free breakdown experience. 12% rated it as Bad citing high renewal quotes, delays in breakdown response and breakdowns being passed to third-party responders.
AA breakdown cover pros and cons
Below, we outline some of the pros and cons of using AA breakdown cover.
Pros of AA breakdown cover
- Breakdown cover from £7.50
- AA rewards and incentives
- Good range of cover options
- Can report the breakdown over the phone or through the app
Cons of AA breakdown cover
- No assistance for the same fault within 28 days
- Does not cover pre-existing faults
- No cover for commercial vehicles (this has to be purchased separately)
Alternatives to AA breakdown cover
Below, we compare the AA's breakdown cover to alternative breakdown cover providers RAC and Green Flag. We compare each of the provider's basic breakdown policies in the table but you may benefit from additional extras with enhanced cover. The policy cost is based on single-vehicle cover.
AA vs RAC vs Green Flag
| The AA Basic | RAC Basic | Green Flag Basic | |
| Vehicle breakdown cover | |
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| Call outs | Unlimited (limits may apply) | 5 | Unlimited (limits may apply) |
| Roadside assistance | |
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| Tow to a local garage | |
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| Free car health check | |
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| Annual cost (not including offers) | £85 | £95.45 | £39.20^ |
^Cost varies depending on vehicle make and model, this quote is based on a 2015 plate Kia Picanto and could therefore be more or less depending on your vehicle. Quote correct as of 29/10/2024
Summary
The AA has a generous choice of breakdown cover options and allows members to choose between a range of covers to ensure they are fully protected in the event of a breakdown in both the UK and Europe. AA members can choose to report a breakdown over the telephone or via the AA app which also includes a route planner, traffic updates and the location of charging stations for electric vehicles. AA has a range of cover levels to suit all budgets and you can ensure you are covered whether you are driving or simply just a passenger in a vehicle.
If you choose to take out a breakdown policy with the AA you can also qualify for a number of member discounts and rewards such as money off airport parking, car hire and discounts at a number of restaurants. As with all policies, it is best to shop around to ensure you are getting the best value for money for the services you require.
